Desmosomes are intercellular adhesions whose adhesive core is formed by two distinct classes of cadherin molecules -- desmogleins and desmocollins. Nekrasova et al. reveal that these two cadherins are independently transported to the cell surface by two different kinesin motors. This biosights episode presents the paper by Nekrasova et al. from the December 26, 2011, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author Kathleen Green (Northwestern University...

When a T cell encounters a target antigen-presenting cell, the lymphocyte's centrosome relocalizes to a specialized contact between the two cells called the immunological synapse. Zyss et al. reveal that casein kinase Iδ helps to reposition the centrosome in activated T cells, perhaps by working with the microtubule plus-end binding protein EB1 to regulate microtubule growth. This biosights episode presents the paper by Zyss et al. from the November 28, 2011, issue of The Journal of Cell...

Cytokinetic nodes are precursor structures that assemble into the actomyosin contractile ring that separates daughter cells in cytokinesis. Chen and Pollard describe how the actin-severing protein cofilin promotes the rapid formation of a complete contractile ring by limiting the actin-based connections between individual nodes. This biosights episode presents the paper by Chen and Pollard from the October 31, 2011, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology, and includes an interview with authors...

The ERM protein Moesin helps mitotic cells undergo a series of dramatic shape changes by linking the actin cytoskeleton to the plasma membrane. Roubinet et al. describe how Moesin's localization and activity is regulated over the course of the cell cycle by two different pathways that control Moesin phosphorylation and phosphoinositide synthesis. This biosights episode presents the paper by Roubinet et al. from the October 3, 2011, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology, and includes an...

The actin cytoskeleton has been proposed to regulate exocytosis in many different ways. Nightingale et al. use a two-color, live-cell imaging assay to reveal two contrasting functions of actin in distinct stages of Weibel-Palade body secretion: actin-based anchors inhibit the fusion of these secretory granules with the plasma membrane but, post-fusion, a contractile actin ring squeezes granule content out of the cell. This biosights episode presents the paper by Nightingale et al. from the...

At the start of mitosis, the nuclear envelope and nuclear pore complexes break down and disperse into the endoplasmic reticulum and cytoplasm. Lu et al. use rapid, 3D live cell imaging to reveal that, in contrast to previous models, the nuclear envelope reforms directly from ER cisternae after mitosis and that this happens before nuclear pore complexes start to reassemble. This biosights episode presents the paper by Lu et al. from the August 8, 2011, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology,...

Several mRNAs are specifically transported to the anterior and posterior regions of Drosophila oocytes by microtubule-based motor proteins, but the organization of microtubules in these cells is unclear. Parton et al. reveal that oocyte microtubules are highly dynamic and display a PAR-1-dependent bias in polarity that facilitates transport of oskar mRNA to the oocyte posterior. This biosights episode presents the paper by Parton et al. from the July 11, 2011, issue of The Journal of Cell...

The mammalian Golgi apparatus exists as a continuous ribbon that clusters around the centrosome, but the significance of this organization is unclear. Hurtado et al. identify truncation mutants of the protein AKAP450 that differentially affect Golgi integrity and positioning, and use these mutants to investigate how the Golgi's organization contributes to its function in cell polarization, migration, and ciliogenesis. This biosights episode presents the paper by Hurtado et al. from the May...

Individual cells must quickly repair any disruptions to their plasma membrane. Abreu-Blanco et al. describe how early Drosophila embryos remodel their membranes and cytoskeleton to seal cell surface wounds. This biosights episode presents the paper by Abreu-Blanco et al. from the May 2, 2011 issue of The Journal of Cell Biology, and includes an interview with senior author Susan Parkhurst (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short....

The endoplasmic reticulum is a complex network of interconnected membrane tubules and cisternae. West et al. use electron tomography to reveal the full diversity of ER structures present in budding yeast and how these structures pass from the mother cell into the bud. This biosights episode presents the paper by West et al. from the April 18, 2011, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology, and includes an interview with senior author Gia Voeltz (University of Colorado, Boulder). Produced by...